By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Renee Kaspar
Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p1065425806 **
ORLAND PARK—Any chance to play a game and show what you are capable of is a moment of opportunity never to squander.
The format is secondary, the platform a thrilling chance to seize a trophy and develop your skills.
The developing players of the Orland Park Pioneers Junior Varsity team are avid for the expanded opportunities of the midweek season.
“We worked hard the whole year for this moment,” Drake Ulaszek said.
The quest of crowning its perfect run ended with the bittersweet 13-0 loss against the New Lenox Jr Knights in the championship game of the Wednesday Night Football League at Sandburg on Wednesday, October 18.
The Jr Knights scored the winning touchdown on a long third down scoring run with 2:18 remaining. The back broke the outside containment, and reached the end zone.
“It was a good play on their part,” Ulaszek said. “It felt great to be here, though at the same time, it didn’t. We didn’t make the big plays we needed, and the flags were the most disappointing part.
“I think we might have won the game without all the flags.”
A Jr Knights’ interception in the closing minute set up their insurance score with 45 seconds to play in the game.
The outcome was in doubt until the final minutes.
Typical of the Pioneers’ resolve and toughness, the team played with tremendous heart and courage until the final snap, still throwing the ball, or trying to push downfield.
“In the Wednesday night games, most of the players are really energized and hyped,” quarterback Kyle Krokos said. “We practice every single week to get better and better, and win the Super Bowl.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. It didn’t go our way.”
The Pioneers went 4-0-1 during the special regular-season and defeated Homer in the semifinals to reach the championship game.
The Wednesday Night Football League features the developing and reserve players who are typically not part of the so-called “red,” or starting units.
These players get a leg up by playing in the Fifth Quarter, a 25-minute scrimmage that precedes the weekend games.
“The Fifth Quarters are really beneficial, because a couple of times this year, we played the team on Sunday that we are going to play during the week,” Krokos said.
“We got to see the team, what they’re like and how they like to play.”
After Ulaszek and Logan Helman forced a turnover on downs with a huge stop on fourth and two, the Pioneers took control of their first possession at their own 45-yard line.
With Krokos throwing the ball, Orland Park worked the ball down the field with its excellent running backs, Luke O’Reilly, Henry Byrne and John Werner.
Byrne and Werner are the speed backs, and O’Reilly utilizes his superior size to smash through the interior of the line or break outside upon contact.
“Most of the plays that I run are designed for up the middle,” O’Reilly said. “I’m the runner who hits the hole hard. I always try to get five or six yards.”
True to his word, O’Reilly ripped off gains of nine, five, six and six yards. Ulaszek got free for a terrific 23-yard pass reception.
Disaster struck with a holding call on first and goal at the seven-yard line. The Pioneers were pushed back, and the Jr Knights’ defense stiffened.
“It wasn’t just that drive, or that holding call,” Krokos said. “Maybe if there wasn’t that holding call, we’d have scored and changed the game, but we had other chances to score that also might have changed the game.”
The balance of the game went back and forth, with neither team seriously threatening until the end of the game.
“We were working hard all year, and every single person put in great effort,” O’Reilly said.
“We just wanted to make it through as a group, and we all wanted to win this game.”
The camaraderie and closeness of the group was visible, and self-evident.
“On some of the big plays, it was a chance to show what I could do out there, and now get into the main games,” O’Reilly said.
The Wednesday Night League is the ultimate show-me game.
“I just want to show our starting team what we can do, and help them get better as we get ready for the playoffs,” Byrne said.
The pride and sense of accomplishment ran deep. Player development at that age is never linear, and no two players grow alike. Players come to the team at different times and stages of their life.
With less pressure, the Wednesday Night Football League is an opportunity to grow at their own pace.
“Most of the players know how to play the game, and they’re very good,” Krokos said.
As the son of a coach, he plays the position with a flair and moxie. He threatened the Jr Knights, and constantly looked to expose vulnerabilities in their secondary.
“My favorite part about playing quarterback is knowing every single play, being able to throw a lot, and getting a chance to run on some plays,” Krokos said.
The players believed in the system, and knew with work and preparation the championship game was within their grasp.
“We’re having a good time, having a lot of energy, playing to the whistle,” Werner said. “We focus on practice, we try our best, we come out and play hard, and we win.
“We come back to practice and try our hardest to win the next game.”
Jack Bordelon was another defensive standout for the Pioneers.
With the Junior Varsity set to resume its season the weekend of October 28-29 with the playoffs, the Wednesday Night Football League team found its voice.
This was not the end, by any means.
“Now we are going to help the Red team get ready for the playoffs,” Byrne said.
Despite the disappointing 13-0 loss, the Orland Park Pioneers Junior Varsity had many standout performances in the championship game of the Wednesday Night Light. They were Ryan Beeler, Jude Doftert, Gavin Loman, Colin Kluever, David Kopec, Dylan Butler, Colin McElligott, Cade McNulty, Charlie Enstrom, Ashton Brennan, Caden Votteler, Evan Lavelle, Mason Overmyer, Wyatt Heinze, Luke Rybak, Ben Snider, Finnian Redmond, Keegan Fogarty, Layth Zughayer, Nicholas Davis, Luke Makuch, Enzo Angone, Terrin Lovitt, Dylan Gavin, Nicholas Baniewicz, Michael Sraga, Ryan Marek, Brock Lenzen, William Reilly, Aidan Rios, Qais Naser, Steven Mullins, Ryan Duckhorn, Nicholas Hertzog, Justin McNamara, Erik Baran and Rhett Capps.